A benefits fraudster who was overpaid tens of thousands of pounds after failing to declare a property sale has been put on probation for 18 months.
Victoria Raby, a mother to 13 children, was overpaid £27,698 in benefits that she wasn't entitled to.
The court heard the 39-year-old woman from the Isle of Man was already paying back the overpayment of about £30 per week.
Raby had reportedly received a large amount of money from the sale of a property, according to The Isle of Man Today.
It was also reported that she was living with her partner - both of which hadn't been declared in her claim for benefits.
Obtained bank statements showed she had received £48,878 in April 2023.
Surveillance which was undertaken at her partner's property between April and May last year showed Raby coming out of the property.
The woman acknowledged that she understood she should have declared selling any property during an interview.
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Raby also admitted to receiving money from the sale.
However, she said she couldn't remember how much it was and it had been spent on her children.
The woman initially said she lived with her mother when asked about where she had been staying.
When told about the surveillance, she admitted to the offence, adding it was due to circumstances and childcare.
Raby pleaded guilty in court to four counts of making a false representation to obtain a benefit.
Defence advocate Helen Lobb said Raby was in struggling financially at the time of the offences.
Lobb said the house had been sold at auction.
She added that it was a result of defaulting on her mortgage payments.
Lobb said her client had significant loans from friends and family which needed to be repaid.
The advocate added that the benefits claim was not fraudulent from the outset.
Lobb said Raby was not living a lavish lifestyle.
Imposing the 18-month probation order, Magistrates told Raby that whilst she was "not dishonest from the outset" she received "a substantial overpayment".
She was ordered to pay the full amount at £30 per week.